*Toot, toot*

It's official! Read more here.

Holy Crap!

What have I been doing??

Oh, that's right -- mothering, wife-ing, daughter-in-law-ing, editing, sleeping, newsletter-ing, reading (I finished Savannah Breeze on Tuesday), e-mailing...

You'll notice writing isn't on the list. That's okay -- I'm in a bit of a writing funk right now. I plan to get back into the swing of things after Memorial Day. Hopefully, my muse can stock pile some plots and/or plot advancements over the next week. Useful plots, I mean, not potential fanfiction for Prison Break. (I love me some Prison Break! And the cliffhanger is torture to my wee little brain! It's almost like Farscape, Season 3...or X-Men 2 when Jean Gray was swallowed by the lake. I had nightmares of Logan screaming her name for at least a month! It's hard to ignore Hugh Jackman, people!!)

Anyway, I have several authors with upcoming releases who now have blogs: Dayna Hart (YOU AGAIN with Freya's Bower), Cassandra Kane (SAY MY NAME), Wylie Kinson BELLA FIORE), and Anna Parrish (SINS OF THE DREAMER) -- all with Chippewa Publishing. Chippewa also has a new author blog: Rebeling In Romance!

I am so glad it's Friday -- my bosses are out of town, the sun is shining, it's actually spring-like here, and I'm leaving work early! Wahoo!! Have a great weekend, y'all!!

Happy Anniversary to Me!

On the first Monday of May, I began my writer-ly journey - my official journey, as in "Hey! I wanna be published!" Someone turned on the lightbulb, my friends!

Last year, I was working on a project I had originally written as a play during my undergrad days. Needless to say, I'm not finished with it. I will be but it ain't done yet. I've discovered that re-writing is my least favorite part of writing. Which is why I put it away. It's still there...brewing...

Also last year, I started writing a chick lit-ish contest entry. Sadly, this potential manuscript died on the vine last month. At least I know enough now to not try to edit and rewrite the damn thing to death, but it's still sad when you can't continue on a project.

If I remember correctly, my goal was to finish something. I did! And guess what? I freaking sold it!! Then I did it again!!!

My goals remain pretty much the same as the last year: write, revise, submit

Maybe next year, I can work on landing that dream agent.....

OOTB Spotlight: Once Upon Stilettos

When we left Katie Chandler at the end of Enchanted, Inc., she had helped her new employers, Magic, Spells, and Illusions, Inc. defeat Phelan Idris, a rogue wizard intent on stealing spells. By her side, and leading the battle, was hunky wizard Owen. Katie and Owen are still fighting their attraction to each other in Shanna Swendson’s hilarious and charming sequel Once Upon Stilettos, but first they have to track down a corporate spy before the company dissolves into paranoia. Then at the worst possible time, Katie's immunity to magic goes on the blink. At least she's having better luck in her social life, with men falling at her feet everywhere she goes. Has she really become that irresistible, or is it the new red shoes she felt compelled to buy? Polish your fairy wings, put on your magic shoes, click your heels three times, and join Shanna Swendson for a romantic romp amidst fairies, goblins, wizards and gargoyles.

I bought Once Upon Stilettos on Wednesday (as Tuesday was rainy and yucky, and I try not to drive in rain and yuck any more than necessary, i. e., work). I also picked up Four and Twenty Blackbirds by Cherie Priest and Animal Instincts by Gena Showalter.

Thank goodness I get paid on Monday because there are 2 more books on my To Buy list: I Did (But I Wouldn't Now) by Cara Lockwood and Midnight Secrets by Jennifer St. Giles. (I want Liz Allison's A Girls Guide to NASCAR but I'm holding out a slim hope that I'll win a free copy. I never win anything so I should just go ahead and put it on my To Buy list.) Thank goodness for that Borders 30% off coupon too!!

Wenworth Miller is My T. V. Boyfriend

I swear, I love Prison Break. I really liked the show before its hiatus but now, I am thoroughly hooked. Not convinced? I offer 3 words: Michael, Linc, T-Bag. (I love to hate T-Bag.) Still not convinced?

Well, my pictures aren't showing up (thanks Blogger!) but trust me when I say you have gotta watch this show!! Monday nights at 8 pm on Fox.

Cut That Hair Right Outta Your Face

There is nothing like the feeling of a new haircut. Okay, I take that back, but new haircuts feel damn good (at least until the 'growing out' phase which is a whole 'nother blog topic).

My last haircut was in December. I normally ask the stylist to part it down the middle and give me a blunt cut. I wasn't too impressed with my last haircut which I should technically call a trim although my previous haircut before that had been a year earlier (clear as mud??). Anyway, I decided to do something different with my hair this time around. What did I go for? Reese Witherspoon from Sweet Home Alabama.

Now, I'm in no way as cute as Reese, nor is my hair as thick as hers. Then again, I don't have professional stylists lounging around my house just waiting (waiting) to make me look good. (I'd settle for a maid waiting to make my house look good; life with a toddler just doesn't leave time for actual pretty, girly-ness, (or house cleaning) but again, other blog topics.)

Overall, I'm pretty pleased with the cut despite the hair products the stylist gooped on me. I haven't used hair spray regularly since 1993!

Let's hope I can maintain it, or at least give maintaining the old college try!!

Fangirl Squeal

Every now and then, my inner fangirl comes out and squeals. Right now, I'm squealing over Liz Alison.

You may not know this about me but I love NASCAR. Actually, I'll amend that statement - I used to be obsessed with NASCAR. I blame the stupid boy I dated in high school (not that he was stupid because he loved NASCAR; he was stupid in general). While my dad and brother were Dale Earnhardt fans, Ex-Boyfriend was a Davey Allison fan. Since I didn't like Earnhardt, I cheered for Davey Allison.

Those years were what I consider the golden years of NASCAR; were my father alive, he'd argue with me, I'm sure. That's okay -- he, my brother, Earnhardt, Alan Kulwicki and Davey Allison are probably discussing racing right now, and lovin' every minute of it. I won't blather on about my theories here since, well, I know a lot about NASCAR and racing. My brother and I even plotted a NASCAR book which I will one day actually write instead of dreaming about.

{Back to the squealing and away from the depressing thoughts}

So imagine my squeals when I remember Liz's book The Girls' Guide to NASCAR is to be released May 1st! And that Liz will be co-authoring 3 Harlequin NASCAR series books to be released in 2007!! And that Liz has a blog!!!